Brake-beam



' H. B. ROBISOHUNG.

( Model.)

BRAKE BEAM.

7? 1.91 iatented Jan 12,, 1897,.

m: NORRIS Harms cu. FNOYQHTHO WA UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

HENRY B. ROBISCHUNG, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE CHICAGORAILWAY EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BRAKE-BEAM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 575,127, dated January12, 1897.

' Application filed September 16, 1896. Serial No. 605,982. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY B. ROBISCHUNG, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kalamazoo, county-of Kalamazoo, State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Brake-Beams; and Ihereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof. the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a brakebeam embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a detached perspective view of the tubular beam,parts broken away and the sleeve and brakehead removed. Fig. 3 is adetached perspective view of the sleeve, and Fig. 4 is a detachedperspective view of the brake-head. In Figs. 2, 3, and 4 the parts areshown in line and in the order in which they would be assembled insetting up the beam. Fig. 5 is an end view of the beam, showing theposition of the sleeve on the tubular beam and the position of thebrake-head on the sleeve,

the dotted lines indicating the adj ustability of the brake-head. Fig. 6is asectional view taken on the line as 00, Fig. 1, showing thelever-post in detail. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the beam, the post beingreversed thereon;

and Fig. Sis a sectional view taken on the line y y, Fig. 7,illustrating the preferred construction of the base of the post whenreversed on the beam.

Like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur.

My present invention relates generally to brake-beams, but has beenespecially devised with relation to brake-beams for use on electriccars, and has in view the production of a. light-weight stiif beam ofnon-trussed form, capable of standing a moderately-heavy load (orpresssure) with little deflection, and provided with a simple andeffective adjustable brake-head which will admit of the beam being hungat different heights according to the requirements of different roads.

To this end the main feature of my invention embraces the combination,with a longitudinally slotted and flanged beam having its flanges inapposition, of end sleeves secured thereto and adapted to receive thebrake- There are other minor features of invention, all as willhereinaftermore fully appear.

I will now proceed to describe my invention more fully, so that othersskilled in the art to which it appertains may apply the same.

In the drawings, 1 indicates a tubular brakebeam having on one sidethereof and throughout its length a radially-projecting stiffeningflange2.

The beam is preferably formed from a blank of high-grade steel ofsuitable length for the beam and of a thickness which will give therequired strength when bent into tubular form, said blank havingparallel sides and of a width in excess of the circumference of the tubeto be formed, so that when bent into the open or longitudinally-slottedtube 1 the excess of metal will project radially, and when brought inapposition will constitute the stiffening-flange 2, which extends thelength of the structure.

3 3 indicate end sleeves for the beam, said sleeves being preferably ofthe open-slotted form with radially-projecting longitudinal flanges cutaway centrally,as at 4:,to leave the perforated ears 5 5, whereby thesaid sleeves may be riveted or bolted to the ends of the beam. Therecess 4 alfords space for the passage of the bolt 12 of the clampbrake-head, and the beam 1 is notched near each end, as at 7 7, for thepassage of said bolt.

The sleeves 3 3 have end collars 6 6, or other and equivalent means areprovided to prevent the endwise movement of the brakeheads on thesleeves and beam.

8 8 indicate the brake-heads, each of which is provided with an opensleeve or bandclamp 9 of Width substantially equal to the distancebetween the end collars 6 6 of sleeve 3, said clamp-band havingprojecting perforated cars 10 10, (preferably divergent,) provided ontheir inner surfaces with limit-lugs 11 11.

12 indicates the clamp-bolt, which passes through the perforated cars 1010 of the clampsleeve of the brake-head and is provided with the usualnuts 13. \Vhen the clamp-sleeve of the brake-head has been slipped onthe end sleeve of the beam and the nuts 13 screwed down on the bolt 12,the brake-head may be set, as indicated in Fig. 5, with the lower ear 10in contact with the flange of the end sleeve 3, and thus secured againstfalling by gravity, yet being yieldiu gl y held by the spring-clampdescribed, via, the ears 1O 10 and limit-lugs 11 can thereafter, uponthe application of force, as in applying the brakes, automaticallyadjust itself to the proper relation of brakehead to wheel for theheight at which the beam is hung, and will thereafter be so retained bythe clamp while the conditions remain the same. If desired, however, theclamp can be so tightened as to render the brake-head immovable.

14 indicates the lever-post of the beam. Said post will have the usualright or left hand slot 15 and holes 16 for the fulcrumpiu of a right orleft hand brake-lever, as the case may be, perforated ears 2]. for athird suspension-hanger, and at its base will be provided with anopen-slotted sleeve 17, adapted to fit over the beam 1 and flange 2 2thereof. In case the post is to be used on the plain (or front) side ofthe beam, (see Figs. 1 and 6,) said sleeve 17 may have only theperforated flanges 18 for riveting or bolting the post to said beam, butin case it is to be applied 011 the flanged (or rear) side of the beamthe post should be provided with the flangerecess 19, (see Fig. 8,) andits flanges 18 may be provided with limit-lugs 20, (as in the case ofthe brake-head clamp,) anda threaded bolt 22,with nuts 23,1nay-beemployed, (see Fig.8,) there being no flange to which the flanges 18 maybe secured for riveting except at a point where the leverage on therivets would be too great.

In setting up the beam the parts hereinbefore described are assembled asfollows: The

lever or fulcrum post 14 is first slipped on the beam 1 and passed tothe center thereof and secured thereto either by riveting or boltingthrough the flanges 2 18 or by screwing home the nuts 23 on bolt 22, asthe case may be, after which the end sleeves 3 3 are slipped 011 theends of beam 1 and secured thereto by riveting or bolting through theperforated ears 5 5 and flange 2. N ext the clamp-sleeves 9 of thebrake-heads are slipped over the end sleeves 3 3 and adjusted, beingfinally secured either movably or rigidly, as desired, by setting homethe nuts 13 011 the bolts 12.

By the construction hereinbefore pointed out I secure a very light,stiff, compact, and simple beam reinforced at the points of greatesttorsional strain and readily adjustable to diiferent heights of hanging,one which will readily sustain a load or braking pressure of seventhousand five hundred pounds with a deflection of .18 of an inch, as hasbeen ascertained by practical tests, and a beam especially adapted foruse with electric cars and similar light structures.

Vherever in the following claims I refer to the flanges 2, 5, 10, and 18as radially-projecting I do not mean it to be understood that the saidflanges absolutely project in radial lines, but that for purposes ofdescription the term radially-projecting is sufficiently definite andhas been used as a matter of corn venience.

Having thus described my invention what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

1. In a brake -beam, the combination of a tubular longitudinally-slottedor open beam having radiallyprojecting flanges arranged in apposition,and a longitudinally-slotted end sleeve having radially-projectingflanges to embrace the flanges on the beam; substantially as and for thepurposes specified.

2. In a brake-beam, the combination of a tubular longitudinally-slottedbeam having radially projecting flanges in apposition, of alongitudinally-slottcd end sleeve having radially-projecting flanges andcircumferential collars, and a brake -head having a clamp sleeve orband; substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. In a brake -beam the combination with a brake beam having a radiallyprojecting flange, of a brake-head having an open sleeve or band clampprovided with radially-projecting ears,and means for closing the clamp;substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. In a brake -beam the combination of a tubular longitudinally-flangedbeam, an open end sleeve having radially-projectin g flanges, a brakehead having an open sleeve clamp provided with radially-projecting ears,and means for securing the end sleeve and the brake-head to the beam;substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. In a brake-beam, the combination with a beam having aradially-projecting flange, of a post having at its base alongitudinallyslotted clamp-sleeve provided with radiallyprojectingperforated ears; substantially as and for the purposes specified.

6. 111 a brake-beam the combination witha tubular beam having aradially-projecting flange, of a post having at its base a clampsleeveprovided with a flange-recess and with radially-projecting perforatedears; substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses,this 11th day of September, 1896.

HENRY B. ROBISCIIUNG.

\Vitnesses:

E. T. WALKER, J. W. ADAMS.

